Apparatus for producing a composite identification photo with diazo developing

ABSTRACT

A PORTABLE DIAZO DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS INCLUDING A HOUSING WITH AN EXPOSURE LIGHT AND A MANUALLY SQUEEZABLE BOTTLE CONTAINING A DEVELOPING REAGENT. BY SQUEEZING THE BOTTLE, REAGENT VAPOR IS INTRODUCED INTO THE HOUSING OF THE APPARATUS THEREBY DEVELOPING AN EXPOSED LIGHT-SENSITIVE PAPER. A VALVE IS CONNECTED TO THE SQUEEZABLE BOTTLE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID THERETHROUGH.

Nov. 30, 197 T. w. RICHARDS 3,

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE IDENTIFICATION PHOTO WITH DIAZO DEVELOPING Filed Feb. 1'], 1969 P. Sheets-Sheet 1 Thomas W. Richards 50 INVENTOR.

Nov. 30, 1971 'r. w. RICHARDS APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE IDENTIFICATION PHOTO WITH DIAZO DEVELOPING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1969 Fig.5

a I 4/ Q A Q a- 5 m/ a 4 M H M m v w 1 l v a w Thomas W. Richards United States Patent ()flice APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE IDENTIFICATION PHOTO WITH DIAZO DEVELOPING Thomas W. Richards, 1916 Mimosa Place, Fullerton, Calif. 92631 Filed Feb. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 799,559 Int. Cl. G03b 17/24 U.S. Cl. 95-1.1 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable diazo development apparatus including a housing with an exposure light and a manually squeezable bottle containing a developing reagent. By squeezing the bottle, reagent vapor is introduced into the housing of the apparatus thereby developing an exposed light-sensitive paper. A valve is connected to the squeezable bottle for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.

The present invention relates to a diazo development apparatus, and more particularly, such an apparatus for use in reproducing composite facial images.

A basic tool employed in law enforcement and criminology operations includes devices which are capable of forming a likeness of a criminal suspect by combining individual facial characteristics to form a composite. Generally speaking, the individual facial characteristics are imprinted on celluloid or transparent sheets which when placed in overlying relation form a complete facial image. One serious drawback to such composite forming devices is their inability to supply law enforcement oflicers on the scene of a crime with a copy of the composite for their own use in apprehending suspects.

The present invention is directed to utilize the composite image forming devices of the prior art in conjunction with a diazo development apparatus which is manually controllable and which permits the simple and rapid reproduction of a composite image. The present invention is simple in construction and operation and by affording the operator of the device an opportunity to manually control the development process, satisfactory reproduced images can be obtained.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the exterior appearance of the present invention, wherein a composite building stack is inserted within the apparatus for the purpose of exposing a light-sensitive paper to a light source during the first phase of device operation.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the second phase of operation wherein an exposed light-sensitive paper is inserted Within a developing chamber.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the individual components of the composite building stack.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a finally reproduced image.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 5-5 in FIG. 1 illustrating the individual components of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view illustrating the disposition of a reagent vapor generator and a reserve supply of reagent as disposed in the housing of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1,

3,623,413 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 the present invention is indicated by reference numeral 10 and is seen to include a rectangular housing 12 having a port or entranceway in the lower forward portion of the housing as indicated by 14. This entranceway permits the insertion of a composite building stack 16. This building stack includes the conventional composite image formed from facial characteristic overlays which form a complete facial image, as disclosed in Pat. 2,974,426 issued Mar. 14, 1961, to H. C. McDonald.

The operation of the present invention is basically a two-step process. The first step includes the formation of the building stack 16 wherein a light-sensitive paper 18 is placed on the bottom of the composite members. After being exposed to light within the housing, the building stack is removed and the light-sensitive paper is separated from the stack. As will be seen by viewing FIG. 2, the light-sensitive paper 18 is then introduced into a developing chamber 20 in which ammonia fumes are introduced thereby developing a reproduced image of the composite as seen in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the detailed construction of the present invention Will be observed to include an interiorly disposed panel 22 being supported at the upper and lower edges thereof by top and bottom housing walls 24- and 26 respectively. A horizontally disposed panel 28 is positioned in parallel underlying relation with the upper wall 24, the horizontal panel 28 being supported along the peripheral edges thereof by panel 22 and the vertical lateral walls of the housing. The space included between the upper wall 24 and the horizontal panel 28 constitutes the developing chamber 20.

The forward edge of the horizontal panel 28 adjoins a vertical sliding panel 30 which is normally biased to seal the entrance port 31 of the developing chamber 20. The means for biasing the sliding panel in the sealing position includes an eye fastener 32 extending downwardly from the horizontal panel 28 and a second inwardly projecting eye fastener 34 which is secured within the sliding panel 30. An elongated coil spring 36 is disposed between the eye fasteners and inasmuch as one end of the spring is mounted to the stationary eye fastener 32, the second end of the spring mounted to the eye fastener 34 causes the upward biasing or developing chamber sealing position. A finger keeper 38 or other suitable knob is mounted in the vertical sliding panel 30 which facilitates its movement to a lower position when entrance to the developing chamber is desired.

As previously mentioned the first step of operation includes the insertion of the building stack into the apparatus housing so that it may be exposed to a light source. As will be noted by viewing FIG. 5, the vertical panel 30 will close a rectangular opening 40 on the forward side of housing 12. Thus, by permitting normal biasing action to occur, a lower passageway 14 (FIG. 1) is formed permitting insertion of the stacking blocks 16 as seen in FIG. 1. The stacking block is permitted to rest upon the base or lower wall of the housing during exposure.

Exposure is accomplished by a light source generally denoted by 42 which includes an incandescent lamp 43. Of course, as will be appreciated, other types of lamps may be employed, for example, a fluorescent lamp. Electrical leads 44 are received within the housing so that an inward terminal lead portion is connected to a lamp socket 45. Upon energization of lamp 43, the light-sensitive paper inserted in the building stack becomes exposed and an undeveloped image of the composite is formed.

In order to better appreciate the structure of the building stack 16 reference is made to FIG. 3. The stack is seen to include a commercially available open channel member 46 which has a mounting surface 48 upon which alignment pins 50 are attached to retain the composite members of the stack in alignment. Reference numeral 52 indicates a sheet of light-sensitive paper, for example, revolute paper marketed by the Charles Bruning Company. Reference numeral 54 indicates a series of commercially available overlying transparencies forming a composite image. A glass plate 56 is mounted as a top member and the entire stack is clamped together by means of transversely positioned flexible bands 58.

As in all conventional diazo reproducing devices, the present invention utilizes a chemical reaction between a reagent and the exposed light-sensitive paper. In the present instance, the reagent is introduced in the form of a vapor which is generated from an atomizer device contained within a compartment in the rear portion of housing 12. The compartment is defined between the interior partition 22 and a rearward sliding panel 60 which defines the back wall of the housing. The sliding panel 60 includes a finger keeper '62 or suitable knob therein for purposes of lifting the panel 60 thereby permitting access to the compartment. As will be seen in FIG. 5, the reagent vapor generator includes a squeezable bottle 64 and a delivery tube 66. A fluid control valve 66 is serially connected within the delivery tube 68. The outward end of the delivery tube '68 passes through a bored aperture 70 formed in the upper portion of interiorly disposed panel 22.

In the preferred operation of the present invention, the reagent is ammonia and the valve 66 is usually closed thereby preventing evaporation or loss of ammonia. When it is desired to use the invention, the valve is open thereby enabling generation of ammonia vapor when the squeezable bottle 64 is manipulated. The outward end of the delivery tube 68 communicates with the developing chamber in which an exposed light-sensitive paper is placed. Moments after introduction of vapor into the development chamber, the light-sensitive paper will develop whereby an image as seen in FIG. 4 is formed. A viewing port 72 is formed in the upper wall of housing 12 and a glass plate 74 is inserted within the port, affording a sealed viewing means enabling the operator of the invention to cease manual manipulation of the squeeze bottle 64 as soon as the image in the light-sensitive paper takes form. It will be noted that commercially available diazo papers preclude the possibility of overexposing the light-sensitive paper to excessive vapor. In other words, the amount of manual manipulation of the squeezable bottle 64 is not critical.

Referring to FIG. 6 there will be seen a view of the interior compartment where the vapor generator is positioned. The compartment includes sufiicient room to store a separate reagent supply bottle 76 which offers the user of the invention a ready supply of reagent.

In order to increase the portability of the present in- 4 vention, a handle 76 is fastened to the top of the housing 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A diazo development apparatus comprising a housing having a pair of parallel side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall parallel to each other and extending between said parallel side walls to define an interior area, a first end panel mounted at one end of said walls, a second end panel slidably mounted at the opposite end of said walls, a vertical partition disposed in said interior area substantially perpendicular to each of said walls and substantially parallel to said first end panel to define an atomizer compartment, a horizontally disposed panel extending between said vertical partition and said second end panel within said interior to define an exposure chamber and a developing chamber on opposite sides of said horizontally disposed panel, said second end panel being slidably mounted for movement between a first vertical position and a second vertical position, said developing chamber being substantially sealed when said second end panel is in said first vertical position and open when in said second vertical position, said exposure chamber being open when said second end panel is in said first vertical position and closed when in said second vertical position, manual pressure generating means including a squeeze bottle mounted in said atomizer chamber for containing a reagent, delivery means extending between said squeeze bottle and said developing chamber for introducing reagent vapors into said developing chamber, and light source means including a lamp in said exposure chamber for exposing light sensitive paper to the light when the lamp is energized.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 together with means for biasing said second end panel to one of said vertical positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,473,174 6/ 1949 Pifer 355-27 2,817,279 12/1957 Ellsworth et al 355100 SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Primary Examiner E. M. BERO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 13; 355114, 27 

